Lead Mine Mechanic (surface & underground)
Job Description
Job Description
About the Role
You will be the primary person responsible for the condition of our surface and underground heavy equipment. You will work between the Portal and Shaft sites, diagnosing problems and implementing repairs. Parts for some of the older underground equipment are scarce, so repairing, rebuilding, cross-referencing, and fabricating are part of the daily work.
- Perform preventive maintenance and repairs on all mobile and fixed equipment
- Diagnose and repair air motors, diesel engines, drivetrains, hydraulics, brakes, and steering
- Weld and fabricate replacement parts when originals cannot be found
- Source, identify, and cross-reference parts for discontinued machines
- Keep maintenance records and complete required equipment inspections under MSHA and Cal/OSHA standards
- Work alongside the Miners and Support Technicians to proactively prevent downtime
What We Are Looking For
- Strong work ethic, reliability, and the ability to take direction and work independently
- Five or more years of hands-on mechanic experience on underground mining equipment
- Direct experience with Eimco rocker shovels, Wagner Scooptrams, mine locomotives, and slushers.
- Strong diesel engine, hydraulic, and pneumatic troubleshooting skills
- Welding and fabrication ability, and the habit of fixing a problem rather than replacing the part
- Deep electrical knowledge
- Ability to read old manuals, parts books, and prints
- MSHA Certificate or willingness to complete MSHA Part 48 new miner training
- Comfort working underground, in tight spaces, and outdoors year-round in variable weather and terrain
- Valid driver's license and reliable personal vehicle, with the ability to commute to the mine site, in the mountains about 30 minutes east of Pike, CA
The Equipment You Will Keep Running
We have a mixed assortment of equipment. Much of the surface equipment is modern but most of the underground equipment is older, largely mechanical and hydraulic, and in many cases long out of production. Most mechanics trained on current large-mine equipment have never seen them. We need someone who has.
- Eimco 12B air-powered rocker shovel muckers
- Diesel mine locomotives
- Battery mine locomotives
- Slushers, tuggers, & hoists
- Wagner HST-1A Scooptrams (underground LHD loaders)
- Surface equipment: wheel loaders, backhoes, telehandlers, and dump trucks
- Supporting systems: compressed air lines, air compressors, pneumatic rock drills, mine pumps, and electrical systems
Good to Have
- Experience with air-cooled Deutz diesel engines
- Prior work at a small, remote, or older underground mine
- Your own mechanic's tools
- Forklift certification
Schedule and Compensation
- Full-time with overtime
- 10 to 12 hour shifts, 4 to 6 days per week
- $40 to $55 per hour, depending on experience
To Apply
Submit your resume and describe why you would be an excellent fit with our team.
\nCompany Description
Ruby Gold, Inc. operates the historic Ruby Mine, an underground gold mine near Alleghany in California's Sierra County. The property covers roughly 1,735 acres of mining claims in the heart of the northern Sierra gold country, with active workings at a Portal site and a Shaft site. Under new ownership since 2025, Ruby Gold is rehabilitating the mine and building the team that will carry it back into production. We are a small, hands-on crew that values people who take pride in their work, learn quickly, and want to be part of building something for the long haul.
Company Description
Ruby Gold, Inc. operates the historic Ruby Mine, an underground gold mine near Alleghany in California's Sierra County. The property covers roughly 1,735 acres of mining claims in the heart of the northern Sierra gold country, with active workings at a Portal site and a Shaft site. Under new ownership since 2025, Ruby Gold is rehabilitating the mine and building the team that will carry it back into production. We are a small, hands-on crew that values people who take pride in their work, learn quickly, and want to be part of building something for the long haul.